New Trackage has been added to the north side of the room. In this view the upper line, to the right here is the town of Mt Vernon. The lower line,on the left is the begining of the town of Bellingham.

This is the same scene but looing in the opposite direction. Also visible is the new hole in the bathroom wall.

The reefer train, aka, Extra 1147 East is crossing over the wooden trestle south of Bellingham. The structure was built almost thirty years ago by my friend Charlie. He gave it to me when he tore up his layout because of a move.

This is the caboose of extra 1147 about to cross Charlie's trestle and enter the double deck line through the bathroom.

This is Extra 2125 East crossing the Skagit river bridge and entering what I call Skagit Juncrtion. It is on the line to Mt. Vernon and about to begin the 1.75% grade up. The other line crossing the bridge decends to the town of Bellingham also on a 1.75% grade.

The cabooses belonging to the two extras are at Skagit Junction. The two lines are actually supposed to be miles apart on the twice around the room scheme. The crossover is only for continous running during open houses and breaking in locomotives.

Extra 2125 E is on the top line of the double deck through the bath.

My friends Lee and Dave came all the way from Seattle to help me install this passage throiugh the bathroom. It was Lee's idea to use steel bar and Dave's to rivit it.

Here, the 2-10-2 is exiting the double deck through the bath. It will have to stop soon since there is only about one more foot of track.

Consolidation 1147 is on the lower line through the bath.

The reefer block has overtaken the train on the upper deck. It will continue into the staging yard. The screws driven the upper right-of-way are not ornamental. The line ends just ahead. The next construction phase will be to extend this line to Blaine and then to the Skagit bridge. (See below.)

The consolidation is entering the north end of the staging yard. The Tortoise switch machines and linkage are mounted on top because this area will be hidden and will facilitate access.

The other end of the staging finds Northern 2550 and 2581 waiting departure. There are still a few things to finish before this area is covered.

A local departs from Mt Vernon. The cars were built from American Standard kits, have lights and full interiors and are heavy.

E-6 number 927 is on the point of the local as it crosses the Skagit river. The other line that abruptly ends at the bridge will go on to the town of Blaine. That will be the next stage of construction. The bridge abutments and scenery will have to wait until all the track is in and running smoothly.

The South end of the staging yard. Since this track will be hidden, the Tortoises and linkage are mounted on the table top for easy access and maintenence in the future.

The crossover about to be installed at Skagit Junction. That is the work bench below.

The north end of the staging yard. The stair case is beside it. Barely visable on the left is the scaffold that provides access to the layout when flipped down.

This flat expanse is the beginning of Seacouver. The cars and track are just positioned to get the feel of how it will look. This is the beginning of a bustling terminal. -In my mind anyway!

This is the future site of Mt. Vernon. The level is for the 1.75% grade through here.

The turntable is mounted and one end of Seacouver. Track has not been laid to it yet. Completing the engine terminal is way in the future.